NOAA Teacher at Sea
Stacey Morris
Aboard NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker
July 26-August 10, 2026
Mission: Integrated West Coast Pelagics Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: West Coast Pacific Ocean
Date: August 9 , 2026
Weather Data from the Bridge
Latitude: 45°46.3’N
Longitude: 124°15.9′ W
Wind Speed: 12 kts
Air Temperature: 15.0°C
Science and Technology Log
Today we had safety drills, and I felt more confident knowing what to do in an emergency. They also checked fire hoses, and the fire response team practiced suiting up and going to their stations as quickly as possible. We were going to light expired flares into the air, but unfortunately we were unable to do so due to the waves and the acoustic sonar being in the water.
Commanding Officer Erick Estela led us on a tour of the engine rooms to see how the ship runs. It also gave me a better idea of how the net is deployed. Here is one of the winches that connects to the doors that hold the net open underwater:
This is the rudder indicator of the ship:
The engineers have everything they need to keep things running smoothly. They have a number of work areas, including a welding area:
This hallway shows some of the electronics that control the generators that power the ship:
There are many backup equipment processes in case something goes wrong. Here is an area that an engineer can control propulsion if there was an issue on the bridge. Also, if the power goes out, there is an old-fashioned sound-powered “land-line” that you crank to call:
Before I came on board, I was worried that we would have to take “Navy” showers, like my father used to talk about when he was in the service. These are where you only turn on the water to wash away soap and shampoo. Luckily, times have changed and NOAA makes its own water onboard! Here is a photo of one of the evaporators where fresh water is distilled from salt water. They have multiple units, but they usually don’t need to use all of them, unless people take extremely long showers.
There are also HVAC systems and sewage pumps (they use bacteria to break down solid waste):
There are a few areas of the ships that have watertight doors that close during a flooding event, so that you can remain safe.
We also checked out the damage control lockers located on opposite sides of the ship. If there is damage done to the hull, materials for containing the leak are available, along with fire mitigation supplies.
Oil leaks are mopped up with items located in these yellow tubs:
The Dive Locker has wet suits, an air compressor for dive tanks, and other tools necessary for staff that are certified. Once a month, they check the hull outside of the ship to make sure everything is clean and intact. Divers train once a month to maintain their skills and certifications.
Did you Know?
Every night, the chief of science, the chief engineer, the operations officer, the commanding officer, all of the deck crew, and the survey lead meet to go over the trawl plan for the night. Based on the days acoustic data, they go over fishing locations, the weather, if any vessels or buoys are in the area, the topography, and if there are any concerns or updates from the crew.
Then they do an operational risk assessment. Each person puts up a finger, with 10 fingers being the highest risk, and zero fingers being no risk. They rate Resources (Boat and Equipment, Supervision, Communication, and Support), Environment (Surf Zone, Remoteness, Ice, Rocks, Traffic, Shallow or Uncharted water), Team Selection (Experience, Training, and Familiarity), Fitness (Physical and Mental), Weather (Effects on mission and safety), and Mission Complexity (New or experimental, or restricts maneuverability). If the total score is high, that can affect whether trawling proceeds or how many trawls will occur that night.
Personal Log
Before I left Eugene to fly to San Francisco, I was excited to start my time with NOAA but also nervous about how well I would adapt and fit in on a research expedition. Admittedly, the fish trawling and sampling is rigorous and switching to a night schedule was tiring for the first few days. But everyone has been so patient and open to all of the questions I have (they even let me steer the ship!), even though I struggle sometimes with understanding some of their answers. I’ve learned an incredible amount about marine biology, fisheries, and NOAA, along with learning about the people behind the jobs on board. Now, near the end of my time on board, I feel that I’m more than capable in the wet lab, I’ve adapted to life aboard a ship, and I’m now part of an incredible crew and team. Maybe it’s time I switch to a science teaching position…? 🙂
